Typographical composing-machine.



M. J. GEEL.

1,136,521. Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

MAX J. GEEL, F VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR T0 MERGENTHALER I LINOTYPE COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING-M-ACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

4 Patented AprnQO, 1915;.

Application filed January 23, 1915. Serial No. 4,072.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX J. GEEL, a citizen of the Swiss Republic, residing at Theobaldgasse 17 Vienna, VI, Austria-Hungary, have 5 invented new and useful Improvements in Typographical Composing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to typographical composing machines, such as those known commercially under the trade-mark Linotype, and particularly to those equipped with a plurality of magazines respectively containing matrices or type-dies (which latter are to be understood as included in the 5 term matrices as hereinafter employed), of different fonts or faces, any one of which magazines may be brought into operative position, and with a single distributing mechanism arranged to deliver matrices into 2 the magazine which for the time being is in operative position. In such machines, it is essential that all the matrices which have been composed from one magazine be returned thereto by the distributing mechanism, before any change of magazine is effected, as any such premature change will result in the matrices being distributed into a wrong magazine. The operator, therefore, must be particularly careful in this respect.

He has generally relied upon the cessation of the sound of the falling matrices into the magazines to indicate when it is safe to effect a change of magazine, but this method has proved unsatisfactory, especially in rooms where the noise of other machinery renders hearing uncertain. The difiiculty is removed, according to the present invention, by providing a visible signal which will definitely indicate to the operator whether or not matrices are present in the distributing mechanism.

The invention will 'be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows diagrammatically a constructional form thereof.

The distributor bar 1, which is of known construction, is, according to the present invention, electrically insulated from the machine frame, and is connected to one, say the positive, pole of an electric battery or other electric-current generator 2, the opposite pole of which is in connection with one terminal 3 of a lamp 4. The second terminal,

of this lamp is electrically connected to a convenient part-of the machine-frame. It

will be seen that, as the distributer bar 1 is insulated from the machine frame, the connections just described form an incomplete electrical circuit, which would be closed, and effect the lighting of the lamp 1, by establishing a path for the current between the machine frame and-the distributor bar 1. Now a matrix 6, during the known process ofdistribution, is brought into engagement with the distributer bar 1, and is propelled light. The lamp can be placed in a position where it can be readily seen by the operator, who will thus be provided with a reliable indication of the presence of a matrix in the distributer, and will know, by the absence of'the light, when achange of magazine may be safely efl'ected.

Obviously, without departing from the scope of the invention,.any form of electrically-operated visual indicator may be substituted for the lamp, and the arrangement of the circuit may be modified in any convenient manner, provided that it is adapted to be closed by a matrix in the distributer.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and, desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a distributing mechanism for the type or matrices, and an electrically operated signal controlled automatically by the type or matrices undergoing distribution. I 1

2. In a typographical composing machine, the combination with a distributing mechanism of electric-current conductors forming a normally open circuit adapted to be closed by a matrix passing throughthe distributing mechanism, and an indicator in the said circuit operated when suchclosure is effected.

3. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an electric-current generator, a distributor bar insulated from the machine frame and connected with one pole In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 01'' the said generator distributer screws inhand in the presence of twowitnesses, electrical connection With the machine frame, and an electric lamp having its tWo MAX J. GEEL. terminals respectively connected to the ma- Witnesses:

chine frame and the second pole of the said T. GEEL STANDERAT,

generator. DAVID J UEJKAUFMANN. 

